Which notable we lost in 2023 are you most closely connected to?

Question

The end of the year is fast approaching, so we're looking at our connections to some of the people we lost this past year, starting with Sandra Day O'Connor, the first female US Supreme Court Justice.

Here are a few others who passed away in 2023. Of course, this is only a small number, and we are not including those we featured earlier in the year.

• Jane Birkin, actress and singer
• Wim de Bie, comedian
• Christine Farris, author, and sister to MLK, Jr.
• Justo Fontaine, footballer (soccer player)
• Marie Françoise Gilot, painter
• Barry Humphries, comedian
• Henry Kissinger, diplomat
• Bobby Knight, basketball coach
• Jesse McReynolds, bluegrass musician
• Gordon Pinsent, actor, director, writer
• Toyoda Shoichiro, Toyota executive

Which of these is closest to you on our single family tree? If you're one of the 31.5 million of us who are connected to each other on our big tree, you can check with the Connection Finder.

In addition to the above and our many Featured Connections, you can check your connections to any category on WikiTree, such as Famous Authors of the 20th Century, Centenarians, and Singer-Songwriters. Click the green MyConnections button in the upper right hand corner of the category page.

Let us know how you're related below. If you want to share your connection on social media with cousins and friends, click the "get shareable image" below the results, e.g. Angela Lansbury and Sandra Day O'Connor. Then just upload it along with the URL of your direct connection. (Please refrain from sharing your connection on the featured profiles themselves, though. It clutters conversations on research and collaboration. Thanks!)

Help us find and improve the profiles for next week's feature on Notables Born in '24.

Answer 1

Bobby Knight - 12th cousins

Jane Birkin - 14th cousins once removed

Jessie McReynolds -  20th cousins twice removed

Sandra Day - 20th cousins five times removed

Willie Farris - 25th cousins four times removed

Answer 2

My closest by degrees of Jane Birkin at 15 degrees (11th cousins), followed by Bobby Knight at 18 degrees.  While my relationship to Bobby Knight is shown as more distant, I suspect that it would be closer if his New York Dutch lines were built out.

Knight was still coaching at IU when I was there for law school and I heard him speak a few times (he was a dominating presence).  I was actually at the game where threw the chair.

My closest relative is Sandra Day O'Connor at 8th cousins. twice removed.

Answer 3

Ancestors & Cousins

• Sandra Day O'Connor - 7c4r, and 19 degrees
• Bobby Knight - 8c3r, and 19 degrees
• Jesse McReynolds - 12c2r, and 21 degrees
• Jane Birkin - 12c3r, and 22 degrees
• Christine Farris - 19c4r, and 21 degrees

Connections

• Marie Françoise Gilot - 21 degrees
• Gordon Pinsent - 23 degrees
• Toyoda Shoichiro - 24 degrees
• Barry Humphries - 26 degrees
• Wim de Bie - 28 degrees
• Justo Fontaine - 30 degrees
• Henry Kissinger - 32 degrees

Answer 4

15 degrees from Jesse McReynolds (13th cousins, 4x removed)
16 degrees from Bob Knight (11th cousins, 1x removed)
16 degrees from Barry Humphries
17 degrees from Sandra O'Connor (11th cousins, 4x removed)
19 degrees from Christine Farris (23rd cousins)
20 degrees from Gordon Pinsent
21 degrees from Jane Birkin (11th cousins, 2x removed)
21 degrees from Françoise Gilot
25 degrees from Wim de Bie (21st cousins, 3x removed)
25 degrees from 章一郎 豊田
32 degrees from Just Fontaine
32 degrees from Henry Kissinger

Answer 5

Ancestors and Cousins

• 17 Degrees to Jesse McReynolds (12C 2xR) 150 Common Ancestors
• 18 Degrees to Bob Knight (18C 1xR) 114 Common Ancestors
• 19 Degrees to Sandra O'Connor (16C 2xR Uncertain) 78 Common Ancestors
• 22 Degrees to Christine Farris (23rd Cousin Uncertain) 49 Common Ancestors
• 23 Degrees to Jane Birkin (14C Uncertain) 22 Common Ancestors

Connections

• 20 Degrees to Françoise Gilot
• 23 Degrees to Gordon Pinsent
• 26 Degrees to Barry Humphries
• 28 Degrees to Wim de Bie
• 28 Degrees to 章一郎 豊田
• 32 Degrees to Henry Kissinger
• 33 Degrees to Just Fontaine

Answer 6

16 degrees Sandra Day O'Connor, 11th cousin MRCA Warren-896, French-104

17 Degrees Gordon Pinsent, three branches (4-13-1)

17 degrees Bob Knight, 14th cousin three times removed MRCA Constable-29, Tyrwhitt-8

18 degrees Jesse McReynolds, 17th cousin MRCA Gascoigne-24, Stanley-421

20 degrees Christine Farris, 20th cousin once removed MRCA  Talboner-1, Thornhill-6

22 degrees Marie Francoise Gilot, two branches (13-10)

22 degrees Jane Birkin, 13th cousin twice removed MRCA Beaufo-15, Throckmorton-95

26 degrees Toyoda Shōichirō, three branches (5-8-14)

27 degrees Barry Humphries, six branches (4-3-4-6-7-4)

27 degrees Wim de Bie, six branches (4-3-2-3-7-9)

32 degrees Henry Kissinger, eight branches (2-2-8-7-1-6-2-5)

33 degrees Just Fontaine, five branches (7-3-10-5-9)

Answer 7

I am most closely connected to Barry Humphries at 22 degrees.

Answer 8

My closest connection and blood relation is Bob Knight at 17 degrees and 8th cousins, twice removed.

Ancestors and Cousins:

17 degrees - Bob Knight - (8C, 2R)
19 degrees - Sandra O'Connor - (9C, 3R) 
24 degrees -  Jane Birkin - (13C)
19 degrees - Jesse McReynolds - (14C, 3R)
26 degrees - Wim de Bie - (21C, 2R)
21 degrees - Christine Farris - (23C, 1R)

Connections:

20 degrees - Gordon Pinsent
21 degrees - Françoise Gilot
25 degrees - Barry Humphries
28 degrees - 章一郎 豊田
29 degrees - Henry Kissinger
34 degrees - Just Fontaine

Answer 9

15 degrees from Sandra Day O'Connor, 15th cousin 1 time removed. MRCA Alice (Bradshaw) St. John (abt 1433 - bef 1488),

15 degrees from Jesse Lester McReynolds. 13th cousin. MRCA Mary (Berkeley) Johnes (abt 1510 - aft 1567).

16 degrees from Bob Knight. 11th cousin. MRCA Unknown (Unknown) Miller (abt 1600 abt 1623.).

17 degrees from Willie Christine (King) Farris. 10th cousin 2 times removed. MRCA  Florence (Unknown) Brashears (abt 1600 - abt 1664).

18 degrees from Jane Mallory Birkin. 13th cousin. MRCA Mary (Berkeley) Johnes (abt 1510 - abt 1567).

21 degrees from Gordon Edward Pinsent.

22 degrees from Marie Francoise Gilot.

25 degrees from John Barry Humphries.

27 degrees from Wim de Bie.                           

27 degrees from Toyoda Shoichiro.

29 degrees from Henry Kissinger.

32 degrees from Justin Fontaine.

Answer 10

I am related to five of the Notables who died in 2023:

1) 14º Sandra Day O'Connor: 20th cousins/1xr MRCA Robert (Holand) de Holland

2) 20º Bobby Knight: 17th cousins/4xr MRCA Elizabeth (Butler) Dutton

3) 21º Jane Birkin: 15th cousins/2xr MRCA Eidth (Unknown) Boys

4) 21º Jesse McReynolds: 20th cousins MRCA Piers (Thornton) de Thornton

5) 23º Christine Farris: 23rd cousins/1xr MRCA Reginald (Mohun) de Mohun

Other non-related Notables who died this year are:

19º Gordon Pinsent; 23º Franciose Gilot; 27º Wim de Bie and Barry Humphries; 26º Toyoda Soichiro; 30º Henry Kissinger; 33º Just Fontaine

May they all Rest in Peace...

Answer 11

Closest by far to Sandra O‘Connor at 24 degrees. All others between 29 and 41 (!). No cousins.

Interestingly enough, Henry Kissinger, although also born in Germany like me, is farthest connection-wise at 41 degrees (going through his Brooklyn-born sister-in-law). But then his family tree is far from developed. Not even all his grandparents have a WikiTree profile: his paternal grandmother is missing! As are five of his eight greatgrandparents …

Answer 12

17 degrees from Jesse McReynolds
18 degrees from Sandra O'Connor
18 degrees from Bob Knight
20 degrees from Christine Farris
21 degrees from Jane Birkin
21 degrees from Gordon Pinsent
22 degrees from Françoise Gilot
24 degrees from 章一郎 豊田 (Shoichiro Toyoda)
26 degrees from Wim de Bie
26 degrees from Barry Humphries
31 degrees from Henry Kissinger
32 degrees from Just Fontaine

(Some of the connections are pretty much sideways and convoluted. Bob Knight is one o the simpler ones.)

Answer 13

Steven is:

• 20 degrees from Bob Knight
• 20 degrees from Jesse McReynolds
• 21 degrees from Sandra Day O'Connor
• 25 degrees from Christine Farris
• 25 degrees from Françoise Gilot
• 26 degrees from Gordon Pinsent
• 27 degrees from Jane Birkin
• 29 degrees from Wim de Bie
• 29 degrees from Barry Humphries
• 30 degrees from 章一郎 豊田
• 33 degrees from Henry Kissinger
• 34 degrees from Just Fontaine

Answer 14

I am 21 degrees from Jane Birkin (17th cousins four times removed)

23 degrees from Francoise Gilot

24 degrees from Bob Knight (25th cousins three times removed)

26 degrees from Jesse McReynolds (25th cousins three times removed)

27 degrees from Sandra O' Connor (25th cousins once removed)

28 degrees from Toyoda Shoichiro

29 degrees from Barry Humphries

29 degrees from Gordon Pinsent

30 degrees from Christina Farris (26th cousins three times removed)

34 degrees from Just Fontaine

35 degrees from Wim de Bie

38 degrees from Henry Kissinger

Answer 15

My closest relation is Jane Birkin, who is my 11^th cousin, 1x removed. My closest connections are Jesse McReynolds, Bobby Knight, and Sandra Day O'Connor. All of them are at 14 degrees.

Ancestors and Cousins

• 17 degrees from Jesse McReynolds – 12^th cousin, 1x removed.
• 17 degrees from Bobby Knight – 13^th cousin, 3x removed.
• 17 degrees from Sandra Day O'Connor – 17^th cousin, 1x removed.
• 18 degrees from Christine Farris – 23^rd cousin.
• 21 degrees from Jane Birkin – 11^th cousin, 1x removed.
• 25 degrees from Wim de Bie – 21^st cousin, 1x removed.

Connections

• 19 degrees from Marie Françoise Gilot – 2 branches (16-4)
• 21 degrees from Barry Humphries – 4 branches (4-3-3-12)
• 23 degrees from Gordon Pinsent – 7 branches (3-2-2-3-4-7-3)
• 27 degrees from Toyoda Shoichiro – 6 branches (4-5-5-6-5-3)
• 29 degrees from Henry Kissinger – 6 branches (2-2-7-5-6-8)
• 32 degrees from Justo Fontaine – 6 branches (7-3-11-3-8-1)

Answer 16

First, many thanks for selecting Jane Birkin in this feature - clearly the best-known of all these notables from where I stand, as she was truly a household name in France in the 70s-80s.

I'm not related to anyone, as usual, but I'm only 9 degrees from Françoise Gilot.

Furthest is Kissinger, which is quite satisfactory.

Answer 17

13 degrees from Jesse McReynolds - 1 branch (14) 5th cousin 2x removed

17 degrees from Bobby Knight - 3 branches (4-2-12) 18th cousin 2x removed

17 degrees from Christine Farris - 2 branches (9-9) 23rd cousin 3x removed

18 degrees from Sandra Day O'Connor - 3 branches (10-2-7) 14th cousin 4x removed

20 degrees from Gordon Pinsent - 5 branches (3-2-2-9-5)

22 degrees from Jane Birkin - 5 branches (5-3-5-5-5) 16th cousin 1x removed

24 degrees from Marie Françoise Gilot - 3 branches (8-7-10)

26 degrees from Barry Humphries - 5 branches (6-5-5-2-9)

26 degrees from Toyoda Shoichiro - 6 branches (4-5-6-3-1-8)

29 degrees from Wim de Bie - 8 branches (4-3-4-5-2-3-4-5)

30 degrees from Henry Kissinger - 8 branches (2-2-7-5-2-2-4-7)

33 degrees from Justo Fontaine - 5 branches (7-3-10-8-6)

Answer 18

My list:

Featured Connections for Bonnie Day

19 degrees from Sandra O'Connor

24 degrees from Jane Birkin

26 degrees from Wim de Bie

21 degrees from Christine Farris

29 degrees from Just Fontaine

19 degrees from Françoise Gilot

29 degrees from Barry Humphries

33 degrees from Henry Kissinger

17 degrees from Bob Knight

20 degrees from Jesse McReynolds

23 degrees from Gordon Pinsent

29 degrees from 章一郎 豊田

My closet is Bob Knight. I remember watching him coach on TV and thinking about how animated he was.

Oddly, I am a Day by adoption also and on there cousin Sandra and I are 20 degrees a part. I think it interesting that she is closer to me in my biological tree that she is in my adopted tree.

I do know the day line I am descending from via adoption, married in to my biological tree at least four different times.

Answer 19

Bobby Knight is closest at 16 degrees and also a 7th cousin once removed.  Sandra Day O'Connor is 17 degrees and a 7th cousin twice removed.

Answer 20

Cousins

• 21 degrees - Bobby Knight
  • 19C2R -- MRCA - Elizabeth Butler (1374 - 1425), Peter Dutton (1367 - 1433)
• 21 degrees - Jesse McReynolds
  • 20C2R -- MRCA - Lucy Hellesby (1297 - 1335), Piers de Thornton (1286 - 1358), Joane Holand (abt. 1287 - abt. 1347)
• 22 degrees - Jane Birkin
  • 16C5R -- MRCA - John Throckmorton MP (abt. 1382 - abt. 1445), Eleanor Spine (abt. 1380 - 1467)
• 22 degrees - Sandra Day O'Connor
  • 16C5R -- MRCA - Roger (Giffard) Gifford (abt. 1367 - 1409)
• 23 degrees - Christine Farris
  • 23C3R -- Reginald (Mohun) de Mohun (abt. 1206 - 1258)

Connections

• 18 degrees - Gordon Pinsent
• 23 degrees - Françoise Gilot
• 26 degrees - Toyodo Shoichiro
• 27 degrees - Wim de Bie
• 28 degrees - Barry Humphries
• 33 degrees - Just Fontaine
• 33 degrees - Henry Kissinger